Tent



F. O. BERG July 29, 192.4.

TENT

Filed Jan. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Chroma Jul 29 1924.

F. O. BERG- TENT Filed Jan.. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet mar/1m 0 fie/"2(Em-Telnet Patented July 29, 1924.

FREDERICK O. BERG, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

TENT.

aasut a plication filed January 12, 1924. Serial No. 685,757.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK O. BERG, a citizen of the United- States,residing at Spokane, in Spokane County'and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tents, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in tents of the umbrellatype, and is particularly designed for use by tourists and others aspart of a camp equipment where the ability to fold and pack the tentand, its frame into small compass is necessary. The foldable frame andwalls of the tent are so combined and arranged as to facilitate theerection of the tent with aninterior space from which poles or posts areeliminated thus affording a maximum space for commodious use andaccommodations, and a well braced and self-sustaining structure isprovided. When dismantled the walls andframe of the tent are retained inconnected relation and are capable of being folded and wrapped into a.single compact bundle which may then be placed in a storage bag orreceptacle for transportation, as upon an automobile.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as will hereinafter be more specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustratedone complete example inthe physical embodiment of -my invention in which the parts are combinedand arranged in accordance with the. best mode I have thus far devisedfor the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent embodying the features of myinvention showing the exterior corner posts and in dotted linesillustrating the interior top frame for the tent.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of theinterior top frame.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing one of the hinged knuckle jointsbetween two sec-,

tions of one of the exterior corner posts.

Figure 4 is a detail view partly in section showing the swivelconnection between a corner post and top frame as well as a pivot jointbetween the upper section of a post and the swivel bracket.

Figure 5 is an assembly view in perspective of the entiresupportingstructure for the tent.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing one sectional post folded upon a framebar as for storing and illustrating in dotted lines the method offolding these elements.

The tent is shaped with a rectangular base and top and'tapers upwardly,the four exterior posts 1, 2,: 3, 4, being disposed on converging lineswhen the tent is erected as in Figure 1 and in Figure 5 wherein theframe is illustrated. Each of these four exterior posts is made up ofsections as 5 for the leg portion resting upon the ground and 8 theupper section, and the adjoining ends of these post-sections areprovided with sleeves or joint-ends Z and 8 secu'redto their respectivemembers by pins 9. These joint ends are provided with an offset hingejoint 10 in order that the adjoining ends of the post sections maysquarely abut as in Figure 3 to form a knuckle joint. Thus when thesections are ali ned as in Figures 1, 3

and 5 the sections form a continuous post,

while in Figure 6 where the sections are folded together, the knucklejoint permits the sections to be folded. into parallelism as indicated.

At their upper ends the corner posts are rigidly connected by ahorizontally disposed cruciform frame composed of diagonally arrangedframe b'ars 11, 12, 13, and 14, all of which are extended inwardlytoward a central bushing 15 in which a center pole of comparativelyshort length or height as indicated at 16 is retained by a set bolt orscrew 17. When the tent is to'be erected this center pole is extendedupwardly from the bushing and secured by the set screw 17, but when theparts are to be bundled or wrapped, this pole is slipped downwardly inthe bushing, (after loosening the screw 17 and then may be secured inthis retracted position by tightening the screw. Thus the pole when thetent is erected provides means for a slanting roof and when the tent isdismantled the pole is capable of being positioned in such'manner as toreduce the size or length of the wrapped bundle,

The bushing 15 forms the key member for the supporting structure of thetent, and it is fashioned with four pairs of diametrically arranged,perforated ears 18 on 85 bars also permits of a close arrangement of itsexterior surface, in which the four pivot bars 19 are pivoted at 19.Each of these pivot bars at its inner end is fashioned with telescopeswithin the open end of a pipe section 21 of the top-frame bar, and a setbolt 22 is utilized to hold the pi c section ortubular'ba'r 21 and .thepivot ail 19 in adjusted position, as best seen iii-Figure 4. At theouterend of each of the tubular sections of the frame bars a plug 23 issecured, to which a swivel-bracket 24 is'secured- The swivel bracket iscarried at the upper end of a post section 6 towhich it is pivoted onpin'25 and the bracket is swiveled in the plug by means of a screw orbolt 26. The bracketas best seen in Figure 2 is fashioned with sideplates .24 through which I the pivot pin 25 passes and these plates itwill be seen, while they permit the post section 6 to be swung aroundparallel with the section 5 when the tentis to be packed, also hold thepost against lateral displacement when'the tent is erected.

- It will be seen in Figure 6 that the joint.

- between the post sections 5 endt and the joint between thepost-sections 6 and top frame-bar sections 21- permit the posts and topframe bars to be compactly folded together and arranged for storing,and. the telescopic relation between the pivot bars 19 and tubularsections 21 of the'top frameparts for storing. After the four posts havebeen folded over on the top frame bars and these frame 'bars compactedas in Figure 6, these four folded devices are swung on the ivots 19' tothe dotted position indicated in igure 6, the folded devices being-"thenin the same plane as the longitudinal axis of the bushing 15 to form acompact bundle.

In the performance of erecting the tent, these folded devices areunfolded, the four postsproperly positioned and spaced apart, and thewalls 27 ofthe tent assume shape as indicated in Figure 1. In additionto the four walls the tent is fashioned with a. top 28 and overhangingedges 28, which extend down over the upper ends of the tent walls as ashield and protection. and a door flap 29 of rectangular shape 'isstitched at 30 "beneath one of these overhanging portions 28'. The doorflap is of sufiicient area to cover the door opening 31 shown in dottedlines in Figure 1 as a cut-out in one-of the tent walls, and its freeside edges are secured as by tiw or, cords 32 to suitable fasteningdevices properly located on the exterior of the tent wall.

' The four wallsof the tent arepreferably fashioned and then stitchedtogether to form a single body, which as she is loaaoasaa cated withinthe frame formedby the four'exterior posts and cord Loops 33 secured atthe corners of the tent body are slipped over the posts as indicated tosupport the. tent walls within the structure formed bythe posts.

Thus all supporting members are eliminated central grommet 37 fittingover the centerv post 16. Thus the top-frame of the tent is enclosedwithin the space at the top of the tent and the bars of the frame maybeutilined for suspending articles as desired for the convenience of thetentdwellers.

By inclining the four posts on converging lines it will be apparent thatthe offset hinges of the knuckle joints, which are located at the innersides of the four posts when the tent is erected, not only permit theweight of the load to be bornethrough the squarely abutting ends of thejoint, but this location of the hinge joint eliminates the possibilityof the post buckling. The loops and ties that bind the tent body to theposts hold the body of the tent in properly stretched condition andmaintain the walls in taut position; I

' The use of the telescopic sectional bars of'the top frame permit ofadjustment of the frame to adapt it to the size of the tent body asoriginally made,- and this adjustment may be taken up, if required, tocompensate for'stretching or shrinkage of the into a suitable bag orreceptacle for the purpose. and this may be accomplished with facilityand without the necessity for skilled or expert attention, thusrendering the apcompactly folded together and then bundled paratusaconvenient and desirable outfit or equipment for the. quired functions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim-and desire tosecure by Letters a nt i i j 1. In a tent, the combination with foldableosts and a topframe comprising acentral ey-member and radiating. barspivoted performance of its rethereto, of a bracket between each post andits complementary radiating bar, said bracket'having a pivotalconnection to one member and a swiveled connection with the othermember.- v

2. In a tent the combination with a plurality of foldable posts and atop frame comprising 'a central bushing having pairs of exteriorperforated cars, of radiating bars having angular lugs pivoted in saidears, and a bracket between each post and its comlementary radiatingbars having a swivel ]oint with one member and a pivoted joint with theother member.

3. In a tent the combination with a plurality of foldable posts, of atop frame comprising a central key member havin pairs of perforated earsand frame bars iaving perforated lugs pivoted in said ears, telescopicsections forming extensions of said frame bars, and a bracket betweeneach post and its complementary telescopic section having a swivel jointwith one member and a 15 pivoted joint with the other member.

4. The combination with four .foldable posts, of a central bushing andan adjustable post therein, pairs of perforated ears on said bushing andangular radiating bars piv-' oted in said ears, adjustable, telescopicbars forming extensions of the radiating bars, a bracket between eachpost and' its complemen'tary extension, and said bracket having a swiveljoint with its post section and a pivoted joint on its complementaryexten- SIOIl.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK Q. BERG;

